[Row Jimmy]

-Yazoo
-Ferris Bueller's Day Off
-Hair bands
-Run DMC
-Magnum PI
-Red Sox vs. Mets
-Diego Maradonna
-Blue Order
-Joe Piscopo
-The Pet Shop Boys
-This Must Be the Place (Naïve Melody)
-Knight Rider
-Repo Man
-The Wall
-Top Gun
-Hill Street Blues
-Cheers
-Tattoo You
-Fast Times at Ridgemont High
-Jim McMahon

Wendy?
Yes, Lisa.
Is the water warm enough?
Yes, Lisa.
Shall we begin?
Yes, Lisa.

Times were good!

[RedBarchetta]

I remember that even being disabled, it was fairly easy to get some sort of work - and generally at higher pay than it was really worth.
But I also remember a "epidemic" that could literally cause a heart-attack. And quite often did, especially in young people that happen to have some money, but definately not a issue limitted to just those with money.

[*Laurie*]

Sure do remember the '80's. I was in my 20's during the decade. With the election of Ray-gun the world changed, and not much for the good. Lots of mistrust in the '80's. For example, the days were gone when one could look at a rental, tell the landlord "I like it, I'll take it." No. By 1983 it was a competition to rent a place...show up at an appointed time with other prospective tenants (SO awkward!), everybody ***-kissing the landlord, fill out a huge application, PAY an APPLICATION FEE!, go through all kinds of background checks, pay a friggin' FORTUNE if you were chosen to rent the place (instead of paying just the first month's rent).......nah, not my favorite decade AT ALL, except that my kids were born during the '80's and that was wonderful.

Musically....not the strongest decade for sure. Some good stuff, but overall a weak 10 years.

And then there was AIDS. Living close to San Francisco, AIDS was a HUGE, very ugly monster that ripped away the lives of so many dear friends and great people.

Maybe one big positive that came from the '80's was, at the end of the decade, ssri's.

[Crazy Hitch]

High 5 Row Jimmy - great thread.

Was Duck Tails in the 80s?

Don't ask my why on earth I suddenly remembered that

I think MacGuyver and the Raiders of the Lost Ark was there too.

Oh - what about Heman, Ghostbusters and Smurfs!

Haha legendary (only if you remember the 80s)

[Takeshi]

Hi, RJ. I have nothing to add but musings. So, I'm hiding my comment behind the magical cloak.
I'm liking this thread, thank you.

Possible trigger:

Ray-gun, eh? It took me a second or two to get that, haha.

Madonna and MJ, are thier music from the 80's? 80's and 90's are bit blurry for me I'm afraid. I remember I used to listen to FM radio which was playing Billboard Top 100 every Saturday, which was my big brother liked to do, so I was just following in his foot steps.

I only recognize a few items you listed in the OP, like the Knight Rider and the Top Gun, of course, and you know what? I have these top gun sunglasses and they are my favorite.

I think I've been learning more about past eras decades after that's happened. 'Fast Times at Ridgemont High', this made an impression on me, but it was during the crazed time of movie binge that happened about 10 yrs ago. And AIDS. I also learnt more about this through watching films. Just to mention a few,

-And the Band Played On (HBO, tv adaptation)
-Philadelphia

Both are from early 90's I believe, and obviously I wasn't there. Now I know what it was like, granted, they are scripted, possibly peppered with artistic licence/interpretations and I'm seeing what they wanted me to see.

The book I've been reading (Past few weeks!), told me yesterday that the past/history is always colored/biased. hmm,,this is just a random thought, no offence intended AT ALL.

I'm not a history guy in any sense, but the more I get older, I'm often intrigued by things/events from bygone era. And I'm sitting here, reading other than the Hollywood interpretation of 80's,,,I'm glad that I'm alive.

Lastly, why Hoff's so huge in Germany? (What was happenin' there in the 80's? I wonder..)

[CosmicRose]

No I don't remember the 80s, I didn't exist

[-jimi-]

Ugh. The hairstyles sucked. So did clothes. And music. And TV. And politics.

I don't think anything good happened in the 80s.

[Nammu]

I hated the 80's it was all flash and $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. No substance. The emergence of mergers and corporate takeovers and the beginning of the end for the middle class.

[Angelique67]

I had a great time in the 80s. I was young, I had my cat, and my best friend was alive and I built a business in NY.

[emwell]

If I had to describe my 80's in one word I would choose different. As I went through numerous life changes during this decade. My high school and college days took place in the 80's as did my first signs of depression and hospital stays.

I remember The Who's first farewell tour was in the 80's the centrum opened during the 80's and we were at every concert available. No more traveling to Boston or Providence for us.

[lizardlady]

Gotta laugh at myself.... when I read the subject line I thought it's the 60s no one is supposed to remember (referencing drug use)

I agree with those who were not fond of the 80s for all the reasons already mentioned.

[Row Jimmy]

Wow, lots of mixed opinions. I get it.....but let's all agree on one thing. McGyver could solve everything......probably still can.

[avlady]

i also loved the beginning of the 80s but after 1987 i could take it or leave it

[Nammu]

Originally Posted by Row Jimmy

Wow, lots of mixed opinions. I get it.....but let's all agree on one thing. McGyver could solve everything......probably still can.

I'll agree with that. There were some good movies, blade runner, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and mad max. On the whole tho I wish I could forget that decade.

[lizardlady]

Originally Posted by Row Jimmy

Wow, lots of mixed opinions. I get it.....but let's all agree on one thing. McGyver could solve everything......probably still can.

Now he can fix the Stargate!

[thecrankyone]

I graduated high school in 1987. I have many great memories and a few not so great memories.

It's also the decade with my favorite movies and music.

The best thing I liked about the early 80`s was, stacking KISS albums on my stereo and listening to them while building WW2 dioramas. Ah, the good old days.......... By the late 80`s I was married and had my first daughter.

[fishin fool]

I had a lot of fun in the early 80s but I do believe that is when
our country took a turn for the worse and has never recovered.

[Nicky123]

I was drunk for most of the 80's I'm afraid. I didn't enjoy it....If I ever write my memoirs I will have to rely on friends to tell me what I did!!!!

[Webgoji]

I grew up during the 80's and loved it. Arcades still existed. Clothes were in bright, solid, primary colors. Hair was ... well let's say that mall bangs directly contributed to the breakdown of the ozone layer. Money was everywhere and it was covered in cocaine usually. There were yuppies, minivans and brick phones. We watched the fall of the Berlin Wall, the shuttle disaster and Cabbage Patch Kids. It was one crazy decade, that's for sure.

[emwell]

Originally Posted by Row Jimmy

Wow, lots of mixed opinions. I get it.....but let's all agree on one thing. MacGyver could solve everything......probably still can.

Yes!!!! Agreed. I fixed the zippers on a few pairs of jeans with a move I called "my MacGyver Move". All needed was a zipper that wouldn't stay up and a key ring.

[Crazy Hitch]

Originally Posted by thecrankyone

I graduated high school in 1987. I have many great memories and a few not so great memories.

It's also the decade with my favorite movies and music.

Yeah I'm totally the same, some memories good, some I'd rather forget

[emwell]

Originally Posted by Hooligan

Yeah I'm totally the same, some memories good, some I'd rather forget

in 1985 1986, I spent = amounts of time in 1 high school, 1 College, and 3 hospitals. The hospitals were absolute jokes in my eyes. I spent 3 months working on my tan at one of them. Another I was told i would remain until I was no longer suicidal. Remain meant no leaving the unit and all the groups were off the unit so I spent most of my time thinking while in my room or the day room. Both discharged me when my insurance was canceled. On paper I got better rather quickly when those letters came.

Even though in my opinion the mental health system still sucks, it has gotten better in a lot of ways. The last time I was in the hospital, I was helped. Left with manageable plans. Even when they were told the insurance was not going to pay anymore. They kept me an extra day because they/I/stuff was not ready for me to be home.

[Crazy Hitch]

Originally Posted by emwell

in 1985 1986, I spent = amounts of time in 1 high school, 1 College, and 3 hospitals. The hospitals were absolute jokes in my eyes. I spent 3 months working on my tan at one of them. Another I was told i would remain until I was no longer suicidal. Remain meant no leaving the unit and all the groups were off the unit so I spent most of my time thinking while in my room or the day room. Both discharged me when my insurance was canceled. On paper I got better rather quickly when those letters came.

Even though in my opinion the mental health system still sucks, it has gotten better in a lot of ways. The last time I was in the hospital, I was helped. Left with manageable plans. Even when they were told the insurance was not going to pay anymore. They kept me an extra day because they/I/stuff was not ready for me to be home.

Yeah I'm glad to hear that you eventually found the much needed treatment that you deserve after having gone through all of that in 1985/6 - because that sounds like pure hell that you were put through so it's quite positive for me to hear that the mental health system has changed for the better.

I owe the mental health system my life, in many ways.

Because boy has it helped me in my darkest hour. Even if I didn't see it then. I see it now to be true.

May we both continue to get the support that we need.